Effective 28 Aug 2019

21.900. Committee established, members, appointment, meetings — research, report — dissolution of committee, when. — 1. There is established a joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the "Joint Committee on Agriculture" to be comprised of five members of the senate, five members of the house of representatives, the director of the department of agriculture or his or her designee, and the director of the department of natural resources or his or her designee. The senate members shall be appointed by the president pro tempore and minority floor leader of the senate and the house members shall be appointed by the speaker and minority floor leader of the house of representatives. No party shall be represented by more than three members from the senate nor more than three members from the house. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

2. The joint committee on agriculture shall meet within thirty days after its creation and organize by selecting two cochairs, one of whom shall be a member of the senate and the other a member of the house of representatives.

3. The committee shall meet at the call of either cochair or upon request of any member and shall hear public testimony on the items set forth in subsection 6 of this section.

4. The committee shall be staffed by legislative personnel as is deemed necessary to assist the committee in the performance of its duties.

5. The members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but any actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the committee's official duties by the joint committee, its members, and any staff assigned to the committee shall be paid from the joint contingent fund, except for members of the committee who are not members of the general assembly.

6. The committee shall conduct research on the following:

(1) The economic impact of Missouri's agricultural industry in the state, including its contribution to state and local tax revenues;

(2) The industry's ongoing efforts to improve environmental stewardship while improving the economic sustainability of Missouri agriculture;

(3) The creation of incentives to encourage members of the agricultural industry to adopt best practices to scientifically address Missouri's carbon footprint; and

(4) Missouri residents' views on agricultural issues via public testimony.

7. The committee shall compile a full report of its activities for submission to the general assembly. The first report shall be submitted not later than January 15, 2021, and not later than the fifteenth of January of each year in which the general assembly convenes in regular session and shall include any recommendations which the joint committee may have for legislative action as well as any recommendations for administrative or procedural changes in the internal management or organization of state government agencies and departments. Copies of the report containing such recommendations shall be sent to the appropriate directors of state departments and agencies included in the report.

8. The department of agriculture and the department of natural resources shall cooperate with and assist the committee in the performance of its duties and shall make available all public records and information requested.

9. The committee shall dissolve on January 15, 2024.

­­--------

(L. 2019 S.B. 391)